Actresses Who Are Multilingual (3+ languages)

Acting across borders often means switching tongues on the fly, and plenty of performers do it with ease. The actresses below speak three or more languages, and many have used them directly in films, TV, or press tours. From childhood immersion to dialect coaching for specific roles, their language paths vary widely. Here are some standout examples—and how those skills show up in their work.

Lupita Nyong’o

Fluent in English, Spanish, Swahili, and Luo, Lupita Nyong’o grew up between Mexico and Kenya and studied in the United States. She has conducted interviews in Spanish and Swahili and has performed in productions where multilingual dialogue and accents were required. Her training at Yale School of Drama included voice and speech, which she’s credited with refining her versatility. She has also narrated and hosted segments switching comfortably between English and Swahili when speaking to East African outlets.

Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger works in German, French, and English, and has headlined projects in all three. She has given full press junkets and festival Q&As in each language without interpreters. Early ballet studies in London and modeling in Paris contributed to her language exposure before acting. She has also dubbed her own performances for different markets when available.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz acts in Spanish, English, and Italian and frequently alternates among them in interviews. She has starred in Italian-language films and regularly promotes Spanish- and English-language releases across European and US media. Her collaborations with international directors often involve rehearsing and polishing dialogue in multiple languages. She has also recorded voice roles more than once in different languages for the same character.

Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci speaks Italian, French, and English, and has a long track record of projects in each. She built much of her early filmography in Italy and France, later expanding to English-language features. Bellucci routinely participates in festival circuits in all three languages. She has also appeared in Italian and French television interviews delivering detailed, unscripted answers without translation.

Noomi Rapace

Noomi Rapace speaks Swedish, Icelandic, English, and has workable Norwegian and Danish from extensive Nordic work. She spent part of her childhood in Iceland, which contributed to natural fluency there. Rapace frequently shoots in English and returns to Swedish-language projects between international roles. She has also handled Scandinavian press in multiple local languages during the same promotional window.

Olga Kurylenko

Olga Kurylenko communicates in Ukrainian and Russian, plus French, English, and Spanish, and has used Italian for select appearances. After moving to France as a teenager, she built her early career in French before expanding to English-language films. She regularly switches among these languages for magazine features and TV interviews. Kurylenko has also taken on roles requiring her to deliver lines in French and English within the same production.

Sofia Boutella

Sofia Boutella speaks Arabic, French, and English, reflecting her Algerian upbringing and later move to France and the United States. She first gained international visibility as a dancer, which led to multilingual acting opportunities. Boutella often gives French and English interviews during festival premieres. She has also coached and refined accent work to deliver dialogue credibly across her languages.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone speaks English, Hindi, Kannada, and Konkani, and has worked extensively in industries that use the first three. She has headlined Hindi- and Kannada-language films and frequently gives interviews in English and Hindi. Padukone has also delivered lines in regional dialects and recorded promotional messages tailored to different language audiences. Her multilingual background stems from family and schooling across Indian cities.

Hiam Abbass

Hiam Abbass uses Arabic, Hebrew, English, and French, and has acted and directed across these languages. She has appeared in Arabic- and Hebrew-language productions and frequently works in French and English cinema and television. Abbass conducts in-depth interviews in all four, often within the same festival season. She has also served as a cultural and language consultant on sets handling Arabic and Hebrew dialogue.

Golshifteh Farahani

Golshifteh Farahani speaks Persian, French, and English and has extensive credits in all three. After relocating to France, she built a strong presence in French cinema while continuing international English-language work. Farahani’s press tours regularly feature long-form interviews switching between French and English, with Persian media appearances as well. She has also performed in multilingual ensembles where language shifts occur within scenes.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman speaks English and Hebrew and has conversational French she’s used for interviews and public events. Born in Israel and raised in the United States, she studied Hebrew formally and uses it in Israeli media appearances. Portman has participated in French-language panels and charity events, answering questions without interpreters. She has also incorporated Hebrew and French phrases in roles and promotional materials when relevant.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich communicates in English and Russian and has used Ukrainian and French across interviews and appearances. Born in Kyiv and raised in the United States, she maintained Russian at home while building an English-language career. Jovovich has addressed Eastern European press in Russian and responded in French during European events. She has also recorded voice work and behind-the-scenes material using multiple languages.

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard speaks French, English, and Spanish, and has acted extensively in all three. She transitioned from French cinema to major English-language productions while maintaining a steady Spanish-language presence through select roles and collaborations. Cotillard often delivers entire press conferences in English or Spanish in addition to French. She has also sung and recorded in multiple languages for film soundtracks and specials.

Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh uses English, Korean, and French, reflecting her Canadian upbringing and heritage. She studied and worked in Canada and the United States while maintaining Korean for family and community media. Oh has participated in French-language interviews tied to Canadian festivals and programming. She has also incorporated Korean dialogue in select roles and public events.

Share your favorite multilingual performances and any names we missed in the comments!